Published 4:00 am, Thursday, October 13, 2005

Being quiet, contemplative and deeply religious wouldn't seem to square with the violent, chaotic world of playing linebacker in the NFL. Saleem Rasheed believes it does, and the 49ers are casting their defensive lot with him.

Rasheed is the team's new starting inside linebacker after Jeff Ulbrich announced Wednesday that he will have season-ending surgery to repair the left biceps muscle he tore in Sunday's 28-3 loss to the Colts.

"I can be pretty quiet on my own," Rasheed said, "but when I get on the field, it's a different story."

The 230-pounder brings a different element to the position than Ulbrich.

"You can count on Jeff to come down and hit you in the mouth if you're a lineman," coach Mike Nolan said. "Saleem might go around you if you're standing there waiting on him. As long as he makes plays on the ball carrier, however he makes plays is his business."

San Francisco 49ers third-round draft pick Jeff Ulbrich, an inside linebacker at Hawaii, smiles at a news conference at 49ers' headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, April 16, 2000. Ulbrich is a native of San Jose. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma) CAT less

San Francisco 49ers third-round draft pick Jeff Ulbrich, an inside linebacker at Hawaii, smiles at a news conference at 49ers' headquarters in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, April 16, 2000. Ulbrich is a native of ... more

Photo: PAUL SAKUMA

Image 2 of 3

San Francisco 49ers top draft picks Mike Rumph, left, a cornerback from Miami, and Saleem Rasheed, right, a linebacker from Alabama, pose with 49ers coach Steve Mariucci during a news conference in Santa Clara, Calif., Sunday, April 21, 2002. (AP Photo/Paul Sakuma) ALSO RAN 07/24/02 Ran on: 09-30-2004
Mike Rumph's return to right corner should improve the 49ers' play in the secondary. Ran on: 09-30-2004
Mike Rumph's return to right corner should improve the 49ers' play in the secondary. Ran on: 09-30-2004
Mike Rumph's return to right corner should improve the 49ers' play in the secondary. Ran on: 09-10-2005
Mike Rumph moved from cornerback to free safety to fill a hole in the 49ers defense. Ran on: 09-27-2005
Mike Rumph is returning to his natural position of cornerback after playing free safety this season. Ran on: 09-27-2005
Mike Rumph is returning to his natural position of cornerback after playing free safety this season. Ran on: 09-29-2005
Jamie Winborn was sent home and could be with another team soon. Ran on: 09-29-2005
Jamie Winborn was sent home and could be with another team soon. Ran on: 09-29-2005
Jamie Winborn was sent home and could be with another team soon. CAT DIGITAL IMAGE less

San Francisco 49ers top draft picks Mike Rumph, left, a cornerback from Miami, and Saleem Rasheed, right, a linebacker from Alabama, pose with 49ers coach Steve Mariucci during a news conference in Santa Clara, ... more

"He said that?" Rasheed asked. "I've never heard him say that. I'm the biggest dog out there on the field. If that's what he wants, I can do that."

Rasheed has been a spot- and special-teams player in his four seasons with the 49ers. And he has spent a lot of time in the trainer's room.

Thigh, hamstring and groin strains have idled him. In the exhibition season, a groin pull cost him a few weeks.

Rasheed and Ulbrich share a studious approach to the game, which Rasheed will need in order to replace Ulbrich's play-calling ability. While fellow inside linebacker Derek Smith calls out the offensive formation, Rasheed will call the defense. And while players might talk on cell phones, play dominoes or peruse the Internet during down times, Rasheed prays. As a devout Muslim, Rasheed prays five times a day. During the 30 days of Ramadan, which started Oct. 5, he doesn't eat or drink during daylight. He gets up at 4:45 a.m. to down a protein-rich breakfast.

In his locker, Rasheed keeps a small red prayer rug, which he uses when he's at the 49ers' facility.

Meanwhile, the surgery on Ulbrich's left arm will be preformed today and he will have about four months of rehabilitation.

The decision to have the operation appeared to be easy. Ulbrich was told by team doctors that if he played with the biceps tear, he would lose up to 50 percent of the strength in his left arm. Still, Ulbrich searched the Internet for other procedures, consulted with outside physicians and spoke with two former linebackers (onetime Patriot Ted Johnson and former 49er Ken Norton Jr.) who sustained the same injury.

His conversation with Norton might have cinched the decision. Norton tore his biceps in 1993, the year before he signed a free-agent deal with the 49ers.

"He told me it's worse for him now," Ulbrich said. "As he gets older, he can't do the things he used to do."

Nolan was in favor of the surgery.

"For himself, for his family and for the football team, it's the right decision," Nolan said.

Briefly: The team signed cornerback B.J. Tucker to the practice squad. Ulbrich was moved to injured reserve, meaning the 49ers are down to 52 active players. Nolan said a 53rd player won't be signed right away.